(no subject)

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

We were supposed to be moving on to Buddism today.
However, due to the large amounts of new students, we will again start from the beginning. I hope that there will be more class discussion.

Welcome to Comparitive Religion.

The feast is ready for you all. There should be a multitude of favorate foods available.
I hope we will all get along well.

To start the class, please, once more, tell me... What is Religion?

Comments

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

I think to answer that question, you first have to explain what faith is. Faith would be something that a human is able to believe in without a doubt, something that gives you the strength to go on and for some people even to give meaning to their lives. Religion would then be a faith that is organised and brings people together who choose to believe in the same thing. Of course, once people get organised and start to write things down about their religion, that mostly means that whoever disagrees with them can be punished or is considered a heretic. And that's when the shit hits the fan and the leaders forget that their religion is about having faith in something and think it's all about power and control.

[marieann-d.livejournal.com]

"What do you think about what Book says (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandomhigh/72508.html?thread=2474556#t2474556)?

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Well, he's free to follow what he wants as long as he doesn't forget to think for himself and blindly follow rules that are discriminating towards other people.

[gandalfglamdrin.livejournal.com]

explain.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

((I'm afraid I need to get to bed, I'll comment in the morning.))

[notashepherd.livejournal.com]

((OOC: Ditto the bed bit... I'll comment tomorrow morning as well. Wish I could stay up longer-- I've been wanting to get in on conversation))

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Okay, it's like this. Sometimes religions might be preaching good things, but amongst there rules they sometimes target a certain minority in the population and disapprove of them. Now, that can be all fine and dandy as long as they keep it to themselves, but when the religious institution and the government start getting too chummy, they might actually abuse their power to publically condemn these people.

Or you know, what if your religion is actually one that preaches that everyone has to do exactly as their priests - who get so called visions from their god - tells them too and everyone who doesn't gets wiped out and everyone who does listen, gets virtually enslaved because the hierarchy gets power mad.

[notashepherd.livejournal.com]

Rest assured, Cameron, I am still able to think for myself. I simply choose to think in the way my religion has taught me.

As to intolerance of others, that is not something I ascribe to. Rather, I choose to look at each peson as a new opportunity for The Allianc chance to learn and enjoy the differences among people.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

*nods* I think it is important for religion to be something that one choses to follow and not something that is forced upon you. That's just wrong.

Differences are cool.